Archive | Uncategorized

It’s almost Christmas, but did you know that SmartGlamour’s clothing lines have a hidden “easter egg?” You may have noticed that many of our products have people’s names — that’s not just a stylistic choice; it’s a deliberate way in which we pay homage to the people who have made waves and pioneered the way forward throughout history.

Today, we’re going to take a look at the Holiday 2017 line, which celebrates feminist artists of the 70’s:

Renate Eisenegger

Renate Eisenegger is a multi-disciplinary avant-garde artist from Germany. Some of her photographic work includes painting her face with bright white paint and abstracting herself with geometric lines or photographing herself disappearing as she covers her features with cotton and tape. Recently, during an exhibition of Feminist Avant-Garde art in London, Renate Eisnegger stated, “For over forty years, no one took any interest in my works. They were all in the attic.” If you can find some of her art outside of an attic, then you should go check it out.

Lynn Hershman Leeson

Lynn Hershman Lesson is living art. For two years in the seventies, she created an entirely different persona and lived that persona’s life instead of her own. She explored her own femininity through the construction of someone else’s — of her experience, she said, “Through fiction you can sometimes get to a deeper truth.” Beyond using herself as a canvas, her later art included film and digital technology to explore desire, femininity, and social construction.

Cindy Sherman

A woman after my own heart, Cindy Sherman explored the performance of “woman” through photography throughout the seventies. Using makeup, wigs, and clothing, she constructed a series of personas and photographed herself, raising questions about “common stereotypes and cultural assumptions” while simultaneously creating and critiquing the photograph and its viewer.

Karin Mack

Austrian artist Karin Mack also played with identity in her works. She began her career as a documentary photographer — one who photographs things as they are — but she quickly moved to concept photography to explore and deconstruct the idealized image and the expectations we place on the image of “woman.” One of her most striking series explores “the death of the image…as an act of liberation.”

Mary Beth Edelson

Mary Beth Edelson is an American multidisciplinary artist who was also active in the feminist and civil rights movements of the 60s and 70s. Her work deconstructs patriarchal history, as in Some Living Women Artists/Last Supper, where she replaced the heads of the men in da Vinci’s famous painting with her peers. She often turns to goddesses and strong female characters and tropes from history and fiction in her art.

Hannah Wilke

Using unconventional media, like chewing gum and laundry lint, Hannah Wilke’s work was radical and in-your-face. She was a performance artist who was unafraid to shy away from the taboo — which meant that many of her pieces were evocative of (or explicitly about) the vulva/vagina. She often used her own body as a canvas — such as in an iconic photograph of herself covered in chewing gum shaped like vulvas in the S.O.S. — Starification Object Series.

VALIE EXPORT

VALIE EXPORT was born Waltraud Lehner. As a revolt against parents who had been complacent during the Nazi regime and against patriarchal norms, she shed her father’s and husband’s names, and instead took the name of a brand of cigarettes. Her artwork was performative and in-your-face — including a piece of performance art called Tap and Touch Cinema, wherein she wore a curtained “theater” on her upper body and had passersby touch her unseen breasts through the curtain. She also wrote a powerful manifesto on women’s art in 1972.

It’s amazing how much feminist art has flown just off below radar of popular culture. If any of these women and their work sparked your curiosity, go and take a deep dive! The more we support the feminist art that does exist, the more room it creates in the popular narrative for art like this.

SmartGlamour pays tribute to more than just this one group of people — stay tuned for future posts explaining the backstory and history behind the names of your favorite pieces of clothing.

And don’t forget: December 1 is your last day to shop in order to receive your order by Christmas, and December 8 is your last day if you want your order in time for New Year’s Eve! If you’ve been waiting to order, now’s the time.

1. Aside from occasionally modeling for SmartGlamour – what do you do?

I direct opera and coach singers, and stage manage theater. And some other modeling.

2. How did you get involved with the brand?

I saw a friend’s sister model a dress I loved. Once I learned more, I loved the fashion, and the representation without tokenism, and the message. I got in touch, and was asked to be woman of the week!

Submitting for the next casting call was oh-screw-it standing-in-my-kitchen-at-1:00am decision, and a great one!

3. You’ve modeled for us multiple times – what makes you continue to come back?

It’s so satisfying, and such such a positive, celebratory environment, for one thing. And I’m proud to represent what it means. It has impact; people have written that it means so much to see someone with a cane as a ‘model’ in an uncompromisingly fashionable and glamorous way.

And while it is challenging for me to do, I’m in grateful shock at Mallorie’s support- many times even physically! (literally #womensupportingwomen!)

4. What does body positivity mean to you?

It means more than I can possibly unpack. But more than anything, it means treating bodies as wonderful, without pretending one is a shape or size it’s not. It means bodies aren’t problems, or worth, and deserve agency and joy.

5. If there is a message you could put across to women/femmes/non binary folks through your modeling photos – what would that be?

It takes work. There’s a lot about everyone that’s invisible, no matter how glam they look! Whatever feels like a struggle isn’t just you, and doesn’t take away from your shine! And that you aren’t relegated to less than anyone- all of you can shine!

6. What is your advice to people who would like to give modeling a try?

Of course know the demands, including openness. But if you feel the pull but are scared? Be scared, try anyway. At least with SG, you won’t regret it.

Clothing was not only not disposable, but also not available at the drop of hat (or a credit card). Fashion was an investment — clothing took time to make, so people cared for their garments in order to extend the life of their closet. In this post, we’ll take a brief journey into life before fast fashion:

A Very Brief History of Fashion

For most of (Western) history, “fashion” was reserved for only the wealthiest people — kings, queens, and aristocracy. Fashion was expressive — a way to show off position and standing. Clothing, on the other hand, was functional. Most people just wore their fabric to keep themselves (relatively) clean, warm, and protected.

As time inched toward the late 19th and earliest 20th century, however, manufacturing made fashion slightly more accessible to “all,” where “all” still mostly included the upper echelon of society. Textiles were more readily available, and dyes were less of a precious commodity. As wealth increased among the middle class, so too did access to fashionable clothing.

Garments, however, were still made to order. Women had to know how to sew, or at least have the money to pay someone who did, as pre-made clothing was still a few years away. The Encyclopedia of Fashion shares that, during this time, people would take apart the high-fashion garments coming out of Paris to create patterns, allowing people to create their own versions. However, this still needed to be done in the home or by tailor.

Fashion Gets Faster

The combination of the sewing machine and factory production lines helped push the ready-to-wear industry into the fore.Men’s clothing was the first clothing to be mass-produced. But women’s clothing lagged behind in terms of technology. According to the Encyclopedia of Fashion, the first mass-produced piece of women’s clothing was the shirtwaist, which, per Wikipedia, was “a separate blouse constructed like a shirt.” As shirts were originally menswear, it makes sense that this would be the first piece of women’s clothing that was mass-produced.

(The term “shirtwaist” may sound familiar, as most modern references to this piece of clothing, at least in America, are made to the tragedy at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in 1911, where around 146 people — mostly women — were killed when the factory caught on fire.)

One of the reasons that women’s clothing took longer to reach mass-production than men’s was the question of standard sizing. Women’s clothing was “dependent on a precise fit” and could be altered to take into account the latest trends out of Paris. This meant that women would make clothing to fit themselves; however, with pret-a-porter (or off-the-rack) fashion, women had to fit the clothing instead.

The Influence of “Standard Sizing”

It wasn’t until the 1940s that “standard sizing” came into being — the Small, Medium, and Large we know of today were based off of the measurements of 15,000 women, most of whom were white and smaller than the average. Per a Time article about the problematic history of sizing, standard sizing “measurements still primarily relied on bust size, assuming women had an hourglass figure.”

It was necessary, however, to figure out standard sizes for manufacturers, because, by this time, department stores were using catalogs to sell clothing to women all around the country, even in rural areas. They couldn’t take the measurements of everyone and custom-tailor clothes; there would be no way to cater to everyone and still make a profit.

All bodies are good bodies — but standard sizing would have you believe otherwise. Don’t let the tags get you down; vote with your dollars instead for companies like SmartGlamour that believe in creating clothing that fits YOU.

While ready-to-wear clothing meant big profits for large retailers, it also meant big problems for women’s emotional health. Per Wikipedia, “ready-to-wear also sparked new interests in health, beauty, and diet as manufactured clothing set specific, standardized sizes in attire in order to increase quantities for profit. Women of larger sizes had difficulties finding apparel in department stores, as most manufacturers maintained and sold the limited sizes across the nation.”

In other words: while ready-to-wear clothing made it easier for women to access and afford the latest fashions, the means of production left out large swathes of the population by necessity.

Fast Fashion

Globalization led to another innovation in the garment industry, making it even easier for retailers to turn a profit — and quickly. By the 1980s, fast fashion hit the scene. Instead of long trend cycles, where styles could last several years before turning over, fast fashion meant that trends could travel from the runway to the stores within days, and the shelf-life of a given style could last only a few weeks, if that.

This really picked up speed in the late 90’s and early 2000s. Now, just a few years later, it feels like the norm. Millennials in particular have known almost nothing except mass-produced, standard-sized clothing, meaning that they have grown up with no concept that clothes should fit the person, and not the other way around.

Fast fashion is problematic in a number of other ways too, as it encourages overconsumption and unethical sourcing, production, and disposal.

A Happy Medium Between Ready-to-Wear and Custom Tailoring

At SmartGlamour, we strive for a happy medium between off-the-rack fashion and a custom tailored feel. We offer trendy clothing, but there’s no “one size fits all” here — we take into account all bodies and strive to make clothing that fits you, and not the other way around.

The bridge between the two is size customization. That means that you get to pick the style that speaks to you, but then order specific sizes for your sleeves, waistband, hemline, inseam and more. But if you really want a throwback (and an outfit made for you), then you can have the entire garment custom tailored for a small fee.

Armed with measuring tape and a mission, SmartGlamour’s founder Mallorie is changing the way you think about fashion!

Our production line is one woman, her sewing machine, and a mission to make fashion that fits all bodies, which means that, while we can’t make clothing that costs $1 and lasts a week, we can create fashion that fits like a glove and can last for years. While we can’t go back in time to an era when clothing had meaning and value, we can create a future where it matters again. It starts with us. (Check out the SmartGlamour shop here!)

Social justice is a hot topic right now — but activism is more than just wearing the word “FEMINIST” across your chest (although you can do that too!), and it’s also more than making a clever sign and marching (although protesting helps!). Activism and social justice are a way of life, and they should extend beyond the big showy displays of public demonstration and into all aspects of your life…

It’s not the words on the shirt that make you a feminist or an activist, it’s the shirt itself. Where did it come from? How was it made? Whose labor was used or exploited, and what was the impact on the communities and environment from which it came? These are just some of the questions you need to be asking yourself every time you click the “purchase” button if you consider yourself a proponent of social justice

What is Ethical Fashion?

Is your clothing ethical?

The Ethical Fashion Forum defines ethical fashion as “the design, sourcing and manufacture of clothing which maximises benefits to people and communities while minimising impact on the environment.”

By contrast, “fast fashion” — like the mass-produced clothing you’d buy from low-priced retailers with high product turnover, like Zara and H&M — is produced without an eye toward sustainability or community impact.

In other words: ethical fashion is social justice. And here are three reasons why:

1. Women make up the majority — of exploited labor

Not only are the women workers forced to work 14 – 16 hours per day, but they must work in unsafe conditions that can lead to tragedy — and even when their conditions are “safe,” they are still without basic benefits, like maternity leave. (And before you protest that your clothes are “made in America” and therefore better, just keep in mind that we have a terrible record on supporting garment workers in the U.S. too.)

When you buy clothing from companies that sell fast fashion, you’re contributing to the exploitation of (mostly-non-white) women around the world — because you vote with your dollars, and every piece of clothing you buy from these companies is a validation of their business model.

From production to marketing, clothing should help women, not hurt them.

2. Materials impact the community

The environment is a social justice issue. Caring about the sustainability of your clothing sources is more than just about trees, water, or animal rights; our use or misuse of the environment affects people and communities around the world.

From carbon emissions to “landfill fashion,” the production and disposal of your clothing impacts the environment. And while you may not feel the impact of an increase in smog, the destruction of a forest, toxic drinking water, or an influx of material waste (at least not today), there are communities around the world that are hurt by the destruction of their environment so that you can wear the latest trend.

People often can’t fight back against the destruction of their land or their environment, especially when the companies that they’re fighting have more money and influence than they do, so it’s essential to understand where your clothes are coming from, how they were produced, and what happens to the excess when styles don’t sell.

3. Low prices hurt everyone but the retailer

At this point, we all probably expect our clothes to be cheap — with fashion turning over so quickly (and clothing made so poorly that we need to buy new clothes all the time), clothes have to be priced ridiculously low in order to get you keep buying. (Yay consumerism?)

Most fast fashion companies have seemingly never even heard of “Fair Trade” — they need materials fast, and they don’t want to pay for them. The Ethical Fashion Forum reminds us that Fair Trade is a safeguard against the “injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, and most vulnerable producers.” Yes, That means that, while you’re getting a deal on your $9 outfit, the producers of the materials get a raw deal instead.

And while you may feel like you’re making off like a bandit, chances are you’ll be back at the store in a few weeks in need of new clothes. Cheaply made clothing isn’t meant to last, so you may actually end up spending more on the back end for multiple new outfits instead of a few quality pieces that last for years. This cycle of quick consumerism feels like it’s doing good (for you, anyway), but, frankly, we undercut our commitment to social justice with each purchase.

Change Starts with YOU

Sure, it hurts to pay a couple of extra dollars for well-made clothing — just because we don’t see the immediate benefit. But when you consider the long-term costs of not investing in ethically-made clothing, the numbers look a lot different.

You don’t have to throw out your entire closet (Please don’t! We don’t need to add to the landfill!), nor do you have to max out your credit cards on the latest ethically-made clothes. Start small: add a piece or two to your wardrobe from a source that provides transparency around sourcing, pricing, and labor. When you need new clothing, look for small businesses that have a proven track record of sustainability and supporting women and people of color.

An easy way to get started? Shop with SmartGlamour. The company was built on a commitment to true social justice in our production and pricing, so you know exactly what you’re buying and how it’s made when you choose to shop.

We source our fabrics from local small businesses, and everything is handmade by the owner in Queens, NY.

Mallorie Dunn, owner of SmartGlamour, makes all of the clothing you see in our store!

We’ve also made our pricing model transparent so you know why you’re paying what you’re paying. Sure, we can’t compete with fast fashion pricing, but we don’t want to. Instead, we price fairly based on the indie and boutique market rates, and we reduce markup by cutting out the retail middle man.

And, of course, we’re a company founded on the principles of social justice, so when we say “all means all,” we mean it. Our clothes are custom made for women and femmes from sizes XXS – 6X and beyond, and we feature models of all sizes, races, identities, backgrounds, and abilities. We even give back with our products — when you buy anything from our Cecile line, for example, we donate a portion to Planned Parenthood.

You can show off your feminism, your activism, and your commitment to social justice in every new piece that you buy from SmartGlamour — your actions will speak for themselves, no statement tee required.

October’s Model of the Month feature is all about Tracy Rivas! Tracy was introduced to SmartGlamour in 2015, and has participated in campaigns, shoots, and shows since. She is a positive ray of light – and we love having her as a part of the SG family. Read more about her below!

1. Aside from occasionally modeling for SmartGlamour – what do you do? I work as a community events manager at WeWork. I oversee and source events for our 40 buildings in New York City.

2. How did you get involved with the brand? A good friend of mine, Alexa Rose Mullen, asked me to join her to visit a SmartGlamour pop-up shop in the East Village. I was immediately drawn to the clothing and the mission behind SmartGlamour. I was then asked to be a part of Mallorie’s #SameSizeDifferentEyes Campaign, which was an incredibly inspiring campaign and I became more in love with the brand than I already was. I was then fortunate enough to walk one of her Fall Fashion Runway Shows and life officially changed forever. I am forever indebted to Mallorie and will be her advocate and ambassador for LIFE.

3. You’ve modeled for us multiple times – what makes you continue to come back? It’s an honor and a privilege to come back and model for Mallorie. Every time, I feel my super woman wings appear and I feel unstoppable. Supporting and representing SmartGlamour means I am helping to allow other women and femmes to feel comfortable and beautiful in their own skin.

4. What does body positivity mean to you? Body positivity means being unaffected by the judgments and criticisms of society where I am limitless in feeling badass, beautiful, confident and comfortable in my own skin. There is a sort of invincibility in the things that you can do when you are in body positive with yourself and with others.

This month’s model feature is all about Bear Spiegel! Bear has been modeling with us for just over a year now. They’ve participated in runway shows, photo shoots, campaigns, and videos. Learn a bit more about them below.

1. Aside from occasionally modeling for SmartGlamour – what do you do?

Primarily I am an actor and activist doing my best to use theatre to educate and inspire others. I also perform in the city living out my fantasy as a drag queen, Bear Lee Legal. And I’m finishing up my final year of college in which I am getting my BA in acting along with a minor in gender and sexuality studies.

2. How did you get involved with the brand?
I found a post in a Facebook group for queer women and transgender performers in which SmartGlamour was looking for models of all experiences to be in their #InYourSize campaign. I submitted, was selected, and was immediately hooked.

3. You’ve modeled for us multiple times – what makes you continue to come back?

As a nonbinary person, I don’t always feel safe and validated in, primarily, femme spaces. SmartGlamour is a completely judgment free zone in regards to the clothing, my fellow models, and of course our fearless designer Mallorie. My gender and entire self never feels more validated than when I am doing a shoot with SG. I consistently leave with a smile on my face and an incredible amount of confidence.

4. What does body positivity mean to you?

To me, body positivity means minding your own goddamn business. It means that you focus on loving yourself, while not judging what anyone else is doing with their body. Body positivity is supporting ALL kinds of people in whichever way they choose to present themselves. My favorite motto is ‘your body, your choice’. This applies to what goes in my body, on my body, around my body, and out of my body.

5. If there is a message you could put across to women/femmes/non binary folks through your modeling photos – what would that be?

Clothing is not gendered. It is merely pieces of fabric with holes cut out of it and cut in different shapes. I always shop wherever I want to shop in whichever ‘section’ I want to shop because if I find something that is cute, you can bet I’m going to wear it because I am cute.

6. What is your advice to people who would like to give modeling a try?

My advice would be to make sure that you are modeling for you, and not anyone else. Find a supportive group of models/designers/photographers/etc. that want you to present yourself un-apologetically. Don’t try to emulate someone else when you model, just be you!!

And when we say “all” bodies are good bodies, we mean “all” in the literal sense.

SmartGlamour holds castings open to the public for models in our Spring and Fall campaigns, as well as periodically have open-to-the-public castings for smaller campaigns, usually focused on new designs and fabrics added to SmartGlamour’s line. Recently, SmartGlamour’s founder Mallorie Dunn held a body positive modeling class for SmartGlamour’s models. Here are some tips she shared in that class, for support in your body positive modeling career!

Things to think of before you get in front of the camera:

Who’s the photographer? If you know who you’re shooting with, look up or ask for samples of their work and get a sense of their style.

What makeup and hair will be needed for the shoot? If you’re attending a casting or a shoot and no information has been given, ask. Be as prepared as you possibly can.

What poses will you give the photographer? Have about three to five poses ready as your fallback. If you aren’t sure what poses to use, consider:

How you normally stand can be a pose!

Three variations of a pose that will give different looks in a shot include turning your head in a different direction, putting a hand on your hip instead of hanging down and a look away instead of directly at the camera.

Some faux “movements” you can try are taking a step forward (to simulate walking), a fake “jump” if you’re able. Hands extended can be fun and work to give your pose movement as well.

When in front of the camera:

Think about where the light will hit you. If you are looking to highlight a part of your body (such as your face), you want to be sure that the light is facing in that direction.

Whether the frame is a headshot photo, upper torso, full length, etc. keep in mind the positioning of the parts of your body that will be in the photo, particularly if you are looking to highlight an item of clothing or accessory in the shot. If you are not sure what frame the photographer is shooting, ask them.

Think about what details need to be shown of what you’re modeling. For example, if you are modeling a top with a detailed back design, you will want to include some shots of the detail in the back. If you are not sure what should be shown, be proactive and ask the photographer and/or the person or company for whom you’re working.

Many people hold stress in their face and this can come through in a shot. Remember to breathe between each shot, and with each exhalation let your face settle into whatever look you’re trying to give. Also remember that, while you are working, you’re having fun! Let your joy you feel modeling shine in your face (even if you aren’t smiling).

It’s a good idea to ask the photographer about the shots, especially if you aren’t getting feedback. This will help you picture what you’re giving the camera as you pose.

Tips for the runway:

Whether you’re modeling for SmartGlamour or another company, please keep in mind:

The points where you need to pause to show off the clothing. The runway director will give you direction.

The direction of the light. Think of it as a moving photo! The light will be on you. Keep your head up!

The placement of the photographer at the end of the runway, who will be looking to get two to three shots of you. Have a few poses ready to go for that point of your walk.

When you’re walking away from the photographer and back to start, you’re still on the runway. Work it at every point on the runway!

Other body positive modeling tips:

Your body is your body and not some other body. Remember you are using your form to show off the clothing. Do not try to contort yourself into some other body shape, size or profile.

It’s OK to say no if you aren’t comfortable with something the photographer or company you’re modeling for wants you to do.

Ask all the questions you need to ask to get comfortable and knowledgeable about what they’re expecting of you.

Advocate for yourself. If you need something to make the job work for you, kindly ask for it!

Our August Model of the Month is Detras! Detras is a loving, kind soul who joined the SmartGlamour family during our #InYourSize campaign. Since then, she’s participated in last year’s Fall runway and look book and this year’s Summer + Swim! Learn more about her below.

1. Aside from occasionally modeling for SmartGlamour – what do you do?

I’m a Wife, mother and now the CEO/Founder of my new business Butterfly Rhythm where I’m a motivational coach for woman who are interested in modeling. I coach woman to become models from the inside out.

2. How did you get involved with the brand?

I was introduced to Smart Glamour through a former agency who recommended me.

3. You’ve modeled for us multiple times – what makes you continue to come back?

I come back because I’m a person who loves to feel amazing in her clothes and when I get the oppurtunities to model SG clothes, I know I will feel amazing in the garments.

4. What does body positivity mean to you?

Body positivity is when you love who you are no matter what your body looks like. Your body is your temple no matter the size, shape or color it is, it’s yours and you should love it in any condition it’s in. Embrace every flaws because no one is perfect.

5. If there is a message you could put across to other people through your modeling photos – what would that be?

LOVE WHO YOU ARE. We were all designed to stand out. Don’t compare yourself to the next person because you are a phenomenal person.

Self love is the best love you can ever get and it teaches you to give it in its best way!!!

6. What is your advice to other people who would like to give modeling a try?

When I coach my models, my main point to them is modeling isn’t always about a beautiful face, it starts from within. When you start loving who you are, it will show up in everything you do.

Our next Model of the Month has been working with us for multiple years now – Ana York!

She’s been in runway shows, look books, and mini shoots alike. Learn more about her below.

1. Aside from occasionally modeling for SmartGlamour – what do you do?

I work in Human Resources in hospitality!

2. How did you get involved with the brand?

I got involved with SmartGlamour at first modeling jewelry and then I modeled for the Spring 2015 collection!

3. You’ve modeled for us multiple times – what makes you continue to come back?

There are multiple things that makes me come back! The clothes are of course a given. Each article of clothing is catered to you and your body measurements which I think is so valuable and unique. I’m tall and plus size so to have a custom garment is truly one of a kind and wonderful. I come back for the positive and safe space Mallorie and my fellow models have created. Everyone is accepting of one another, cheers each other on, and being in such an environment is hard to find nowadays. The positive environment created speaks to the brand, SmartGlamour itself and that is an ultimate reason for coming back. I am honored to represent a brand that carries a truly inclusive and consistent message.

4. What does body positivity mean to you?

To me body positivity means not only an acceptance but a pride and celebration of your body. No matter your size, it’s the positive affirmation that you are beautiful and worthy of love and happiness.

5. If there is a message you could put across to other people through your modeling photos – what would that be?

I always try to emphasize that my body acceptance journey is still underway. I want people to see that yes, I am confident, but I also have insecurities and things I try to work on. I think that kind vulnerability is important to see and hopefully inspires women that it’s okay to not always feel like you have it together. However, I make a point to show and applaud myself on how far I have come. From someone who was in an abusive relationship with no self esteem to modeling in lingerie, the last few years, I have grown exponentially!

6. What is your advice to other people who would like to give modeling a try?

I think the most important advice to realize it takes so much time, research, money, and effort to be a model. You have to learn your body and angles. You have to network and really be okay with putting yourself out there. It’s tough and there’s a lot of competition so it’s also important to not let rejection get to you. But it’s been such a valuable and rewarding experience for me that I would gladly encourage someone to give it a try.

One day I received an email from a cane user who told me she was in tears (happily) after seeing a model glamorously posing amidst the other models on my site, while using her cane. I won’t go into too many details, for the privacy of both her and my model – but suffice it to say, she had never seen that before, and this is why just one example of why representation is so important.

There is so much “othering” happening in our society today – and a group that absolutely feels the brunt of it are disabled folks. We (generally, as a society) infantalize them, assume they can do less than they can, stating they are automatically “inspiring” by just living, and that they constantly need our help through every little thing. (Please watch our Round Table Discussion videos with a few disabled women and femmes to listen to them directly on these issues.) We refuse to see them as whole, beautiful people, full of talent, intelligence, worth, or even sex appeal. The only way to chip away at this – is by changing how they are seen. And the biggest way to do that – is through media representation.

As I’ve stated previously with our last #AllMeansAll installments (Gender, Size, Skin Color) – SmartGlamour has been including all folks since day one – but did not want to tokenism them or exploit their differences for our gain. Every model is equal to the next in SmartGlamour spaces. However, there is a need to take a stand, highlight these folks, and amplify their voices. Yesterday, we produced the following shoot with only disabled models – and guess what? It was exactly like every other SG shoot.

All folks wear clothes. All folks deserve to have access to ethical, affordable, comfortable, fun clothing. Fashion is fun – and should be for all people. And when we say all, we mean all.